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Our 2018-2019 Board of Directors
 Keely Puma 2018 -2019 Vice-President of Conference
.JPG) Tanya Murphy 2018-2019 Vice-President of Training
Pat Landry, FAAIDD 2018- 2019 Vice-President of Marketing
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Lynda Thiels 2018 - 2019 President Lynda Thiels graduated from Louisiana College in 1968 with a BA in Sociology. She began her career with Region VI Child Welfare and services to children and adolescents. She began supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with her move to the Social Services Department at the Louisiana Special Education Center in 1978. She worked at St Mary’s Training School for approximately 20 years as a social worker, QMRP, and later as assistant administrator. In 2000, she moved to Pinecrest Supports & Services Center. She retired from Pinecrest in October 2014 as the Director of Training and Organizational Development. She is now the Social Services Consultant for Colwell Interests. Ms. Thiels career has spanned approximately 46 years. She has been affiliated with AAIDD since 1981. She has served on the Board, several times—including 2 terms as VP of Training, VP of Conferences and this is her third term as President. Ms. Thiels is included the World Wide Who’s Who Registry of Executives, Professional and Entrepreneurs, 2015-2016 Edition. She also qualified for inclusion in Worldwide Publishing’s Prestigious Roster of Top Female Executives.
Dr. Joyce Louden 2018 - 2019 Secretary Dr. Louden earned her Ph.D., in Social Psychology from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1979. She currently work for the State of Louisiana as the Director of Education and Training for OCDD. She has a long history working with AAIDD - LA and has served various positions on the board.
Judy Thomas 2018 - 2019 Member-At-Large Judy Thomas is the current Director of Staff Training and Organizational Development at Pinecrest Supports and Services Center. She joined the staff in August of 2014. She has served as an ad hoc Board member for the Louisiana chapter of AAIDD since 2016. She has been involved in the field of Developmentally Disabilities since childhood having family members diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and autism. She pursued her undergraduate degree in the field of Developmental Disabilities graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Kent State University in Ohio. From 1994 until 2003 she served primarily as a certified teacher in the field at elementary to high school levels. Her roles began to change through acquiring skills from the University of Michigan Dearborn and Eastern Michigan University. She served 4 years as a compliance monitor developing and administering corrective action plans and quality improvement measures for the school district. Prior to relocating to Louisiana she served on the transition team for students needing post-secondary services upon graduation from high school in addition to teaching. She continues her dedication in the field providing training and educating to direct care staff and professionals at Pinecrest.
Shannon Noda 2018 - 2019 Member-At-Large |
 Paxton Oliver 2018-2019 President-Elect Mr. Oliver serves as the Deputy Director of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Division of Central LA Human Services District and is responsible for overseeing the provision of all Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities services. He has 21 years of experience working with individuals with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities, having compiled behavioral intervention plans, conducting training, and supervised at Pinecrest Supports and Services Center. Mr. Oliver has also provided support coordination, technical assistance to private support coordination/provider agencies, and served as the Medical Certification Specialist at the Regional Waiver Office. Mr. Oliver received his Bachelor’s in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University and his Master’s in Psychology from Northeast Louisiana University. He most recently served as the Central Louisiana Resource Center Director.
Dr. Sylvia Melancon Immediate Past-President
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